Apparatus for compressing cotton, &amp;c.



no. 630,369. Patented Aug. 8, 1899.

e. A. Lownv. APPARATUS EUR WMPRESSING BUTTON, 8m.

.. (Application filed June 8, 1898:)

(No Model.)

1m; :mums Evans worauwo. wAsnmmoN, u. cA

N0. 630,369. Pafehted Allg. 8, |899.

G. A. LWRY.

APPARATUS FOR CUMPRESSING GUTTUN, &c.

(Applicatiu lgd June 8, 1898.), (nu, Modal.) 1 shunts-sheet z.

CJ. la), (bl 1 I lo m: Noam: Patchs co. Pno'raurnm wAsHmumN. n, c

No. 630,369. Patl'ented Aug. s, |899. a. A. Lownv.-

APPARATUS FOR COMPRESSINE COTTON, &.c;

(Application led June 8, 189B.)

(No Model.) Y 7 Sheets-.Sheet 3.

4 T f- V f V v .M 2 v ,b

wm--/V/ W C n il .ll

110.630,369. Patented Aug. 8, |899.

G. A. LDWRY.

APPARATUS FUR UMPRESSNG CDTTGN, &c.

(Appueeion' mqd :une s, 189e.) No Model.) 7 Sheets-Sheet 4.

7 e5 C ci. Q2

my fili?) No. 639,369. Patented Aug. 8, |899. G. A. LOWRY.

APPARATUS FDR GUMPRESSING BUTTON, &c.

(Application tiled June s, 1898.) .No Model.) 7 Sheets-Sheet 5.

'J1 l e s No. 630,369. Patented Aug. a, |899.

a. A. Lownv.

APPARATUS FDR COMPRESSING COTTON, 81.0.

\ (Application led June 8, 1898.) (No Model.)

-7 Sheets-Sheet 6.

THE Nonms PETERS ou. vucvournn.. wAsNmoron, n. c.

No. 630,369. Patented Aug. 8, |899.

G. A. LUWR'YQ.

APPARATUS FOR CDMPRESSENG COTTON, 5w."

(Application led June 8, `X898.)

7 Sheets-'Sheet 7.

md modal.)

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VM f/"JV Tm: wcmus arms co, Puma-LITRO.. wuumoou, n. c.

` UNiTED -VSTATES jQP-ATENT OFFICE l N --l- GEORGE A. LOWRY, OF CHICAGO,ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR T O THE PLANTERS COMPRESS COMPANY, 'OF WEST VIRGINIA.

APPARATUS FOR COM PRESSING COTTON, 86C.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 630,369, dated August8, 1899.

llpplication filed Tune 8, 1898. Serial No. 682,947. No model.)

To all whomI it may concern: from the compressing apparatus and showingBeit known that I, GEORGE A. LOWRY, a means for detaching or separatingportions citizen of the United States, residing at Chifrom suchcompressed material to form the cago, in the county of Cook and Stateot' Illibales. Fig. 111isa broken detached sectional 55 5 nois, haveinvented a new and useful Apparadetail view on the line X11 X11, Fig.11. Fig.

tus for Compressing Cotton or other Fibrous l2 is a View in sideelevation, parts broken Material, of which the following is a specili-Aand parts in section, on the line X12 X12, Fig.

cation. 11, looking in the direction of the arrows.

This invention relates to apparatusforcom-' Fig; 13 is a detached detailView in plan of a 6o 1o pressing cotton or other librous material.` partof the severing or bale-separating apparlhe object of the invention isto provide an ratus. Fig. 14 is a detail view, in bottom apparatus ofimproved construction and arplan, of one of the sets of separating andrerangement for eiiieiently condensing, com taining devices shown inFig. 13. Fig. 15 is pressing, and balingcotton, wool,orother maatransverse sectional View of the same on 65 i5 terial. line X15 X15,Fig. 14. Fig. 16 is a detached de- The invention consists,-substantially, in tail View in plan of a form of bale-support or theorganization and the combinations, arplaten embodying the principles ofthe invenrangements,and constructions hereinafter set tion. Fig.=17 is aview similar to Fig. 11, forth, illustrated in the accompanyingdrawillustrating a form of means for receiving and 7o zo ings, andfinally pointed out in the appended supporting the bale of aconstruction someclaims. what diiterent from that shown in Fig. 11, but

Referring to the accompanying drawings included within the principles ofmy invenand to the various views appearing thereon. tion. Fig. 18 is atransverse section of the illustrating the several inventions orselected same on line X1s X18, Fig. 17. 25 speciesofvariouspossibleembodimentsofthe In my Patents Nos. 581,600 and 581,601,principles thereof, Figure 1 is an end view of granted April 29, 1897, Ihave described and a form of chamber or holder adapted for use claimedan apparatus for compressing cotton in connection With my invention.Fig. 2 is and other fibrous material, in which apparaa centrallongitudinal section of the same. tus,as in that hereinafterdescribed,tl1ere are 8o 3o Fig. 3 is a central longitudinal section ofa' employed a chamber or holder open at both form of receiving andcompressing apparatus ends and a slotted cap or head for one end ofembodying the principles of my invention. said chamber, these partsbeing mounted for Fig. 4 is a similar view, parts broken away, relativerotation. In the operation ofabaling illustrating a slightly differentconstruction apparatus embodying these generic features 85 35 includedin the scope of my invention. Fig. the chamber is first filled by handor otheris an enlarged sectional detailview showing wise with thematerial to be condensed or a portion of the compressed material andcompressed, and then by imparting a relative illustrating certain stepsin the operation. rotation to the chamber and cap and supply- Fig. 6 isa longitudinal sectional view of a ing additional material to oradjacent to the 9o 4o portion of the machine havinga modified arslot orslots in the cap such additional materangement. Fig. 7 is a view similarto Fig. rial is caught or engaged by the material pre- 1, showing aslightly dil'erent form of chamvionsly introduced into the chamber andber or holder. Fig. S is a central longitudidrawn into suoli chamber,and thus comnal section of the form of chamber or holder pressed andformed into condensed flattened 95 +5 shown in Fig. 7. Fig. 9 isa bottomplan View spiral layers, the body of material contained of a form ot'cap or head adapted for use in in the chamber being augmented endwise byconnection with my invention. Fig. 10 is a each spiral layer thus addedthereto and cortransverse section of the same onA line X10 X10,respondingly advanced through the chamber, Fig. 9. Fig. 1l is a centrallongitudinal sectinally emerging from the chamber in the form roo 5otional view of a form of apparatus t'or supof a column in a highlycondensed or com`-A porting the compressed material as it issues.pressed state, and it was set forth in such patents that the relativerotation of the chamber and cap might be secured by rotating either oneor both of these parts.A

The present invention relates to apparatus operating substantially asabove set forth and embodying improvements in organization, arrangement,and constructiomand also additional features, all as will-be pointedoutI hereinafter.

In the accompanying drawings, wherein the same part is designated by thesame reference-sign wherever it occurs throughout the several views,reference-sign ct designates the chamber or holder, Ib the cap or head,and V c the supporting-casing. As shown in Fig. rotation is imparted tochamber ct through suitable gears G2 from any suitable or convenientsource of power. Casing c is suitably supported upon a framework A andis provided with an Vinternal liange or shoulder c2, arranged to receiveand form a bearing for a peripheral flange or shoulder a4 on the chamberet. If desired, and in order to re-` duce friction, antifriction-balls,as indicated at c3, may be interposed between flanges or shoulders c2and a4. If desired, and in vorder to dissipate heat generated during theoperation of the apparatus, the casing c may be cored, as at c4, to forma water-jacket. In this form of the apparatus the cap b is bolted orotherwise secured tocasing c or other fixed or rigid part of themachine. In Fig. 3 Ihaye shown a construction wherein theV chamber isheld stationary while the cap is rotated.; In this form of constructionthe chamber a may be rigidly held by being bolted or otherwise securedto the framework or other fixed part: of the machine, while the cap mayform. part of or may be bolted or otherwise secured to a collar c',shouldered, as at C5, to fit a flange t5 on the chamber, and to whichrota tion may be imparted in any suitable or convenient manner, as bymeans of vgears G2, from any convenient source of power.

As shown in my patents above mentioned, the material to be compressed isintroduced to the chamber through slots in the cap, vwhich l is in theform of a removable plate having one or. more slots b2 formedtherethrough. v

The material may be supplied to the feeding heador cap in any suitableor convenient manner. In the drawings I have shown a simple andeiiicient construction for this purpose, wherein I provide a basket orreceptacle b, open at both ends and suitably mounted upon or over thefeed head or cap. Into this basket or receptacle the material may bedelivered. This basket or receptacle may be dispensed with, however, ifdesired, or its construction orvarrangement varied withoutdeparture fromthe spirit or scope of my invention.

The loose material is supplied in bulk to the cap either by deliveringsuch material on top of the cap or by delivering it into the rece ptacleb', if such receptacle is employed. The fibers of this loose material,which are more vthe f chamber. ,amount of materialat a time may behighly ,compressed more readily and thoroughly than cana large quantityof such material, and therefore the action of the machine indrawchamber.

drawn along by and with the material that is` already engaged with thecompressed mass below, `and which is thereby drawn through the inletslots or openings in the cap-plate, so that some portionof the loosematerial deli v ered to the cap will thus find its way to one ,oranother of the slots, and hence the entireI bulk .0f the loose .materialwill be drawn into It is evident Athat a small ing the material to becompressed into the Lchamber through a comparatively narrow slot,whereby such material is drawn into the machine in the form of a thinsheet or layer,

is particularly effective in highlycondensing and compressing thematerial, because the operation is upon a small quantity of material atany given moment in the operation.

This highly.- compressed layer of material,

yadds during the relative rotation successive increments to thevpreviously-introduced material, vwhich are laid on the end of the column thereof next adjacent tothe inner surfaceof the cap, and this addedincrement also correspondingly advances the subjacent column ofcompressed material through the pressed material is built upofspirally-laid highly-compressed layers, applied progressively andcontinuously, or substantiallyso, to

ithe yend of the column, the cap serving as an abutment against whichthe receiving end of `the column of compressed material in the `securinggreat density of compression in the column in the direction of itslength and preventing expansion of the material endwise at this end ofsuch vcolumn. By reason of the relative rotation of this headvor cap andthe chamber a it will be seen that the inner surface thereof issubjected Vto wear against In this manner the column of com.

IOO

the end ofthe column. In order,therefore,that the contacting portion ot'the cap (which may be of hardened metal) may be readily removed andreplaced by a new one when worn by continued friction on its innersurface, I prefer to make the under or Wearing portion of said cap inthe t'orm ot' a removable plate or disk, as clearly shown in thedrawings.

Under some conditions of operation itmay be desirable to reduce thefriction of contact between the relatively rotating or moving adjacentsurfaces ot' the cap and the column of material being compressed to someextent. This result may be accomplished in many different ways. In Figs.Sl and l0, as an illustration of an operative construction embodyingthis idea, but to which, however, the invent-ion is not limited, I haveshown the inner surface ot' the cap Z) formed with grooves 117. Thesegrooves may be arranged in any suitable manner; but in the constructionwhere the relative movement of the cap and column ot' material containedin the chamber is a rotary movement of one ot' these parts tne grooves117 should be arranged substantially concentric with the axis ot'rotation of the rotating part. In order to prevent binding ot' thematerial in the grooves by the expansive tendency of the material towardthe grooved surface of the cap due to the compression to which thematerial is subjected, the grooves o7 are preferably of minimum widthand depth at the curved or compressing lip b3 of the slots and increasevery slightly in depth or width, or both, from such lip to the other lipof the next adjacent slot. By the provision oi' the grooves bT the areaof frictional surface of the cap is reduced, and by arranging said slotsin concentric relation to the axis of rotation of the movable part andby slightly increasing the dimensions of said grooves from thecompressing edge or lip of one slot to the other edge or lip of nextadjacent slot rearward with reference to the direction of relativerotation of the cap and chamber I avoid the tendency of the grooves toform a lock between the column of compressed material and the cap, whichwould tend to prevent relative rotation of these parts.

In order to insure a relative rotation of the cap and column otlcompressed material contained in the chamber, it may be desirable insome instances to provide special means ior locking or clutching thecompressed column of material to its surrrounding chamber or sleeve,thereby preventing rotation of the column within the chamber or sleeverelative thereto. VMany specically dil't'erent arrangement-s may bedevised t'or accomplishing this result in case it may be desired toresort thereto. While, therefore, I have shown and will now describespecific constructions em-` bodying the idea, I desire it to beunderstood that I do not confine or limit myself thereto. In one formshown I provide the interior surface of the chamber a with longitudinalribs or projections d20, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Preferably, thoughnot necessarily, these ribs or projections and the intermediate groovesformed thereby are formed slightly tapering in width and depth, thegrooves contracting in width and growing more shallow as they approachthe delivery end of the chamber, where nally they may disappear. By thisconstruction it will be seen that the column of compressed materialcontained in the chamber engages with the ribs or projections and willthereby be locked and held against relative rotation within the chamberor sleeve a,

thus insuring a relative rotation between the column of compressedmaterial and the cap whether such relative rotation is secured with astationary cap and rotating chamber or a rotating cap and stationarychamber. It will also be seen that by arranging the ribs or projectionsto extend longitudinally ot' the chamber they do not. citer obstructionto the advancement of the column through the chamber, and by taperingthe grooves and ribs, as above described, the greatest holding orlocking effect is secured adjacent to the receiving end .of the chamber,that being the point where is developed the greatest tendency of thecolumn to slip relative to the chamber. The grooves thus formed may alsoserve as passages for the escape of air or moisture expelled from thematerial during compression, thus forming Ventilating-spaces for thecompressed column contained in the chamber.

Instead of grooving or forming ribs on the internal surface of chambera. such grooves or ribs may be formed on the internal surface of asleeve, (see Fig. 6,) which is suitably arranged in the chamber.

In Figs. 7 and 8 I have shown a slightlymodified construction, whereinthe locking means are in the form of longitudinal bars am, suitably heldor supported in rings or hoops @22 and arranged within the chamber d.rlhis construction provides an engaging device and a series oflongitudinal ven tilating-spaces around the entire column within thechamber.

It is obvious that the provision of special means, such as abovedescribed, for locking or clutching the column ot' compressed materialagain st rotation within and relative to the chamber may be entirelydispensed with and the frictional contact between the material and theinner surface of the chamber alone depended upon to secure the desiredclutching eiect. In case of great density of compression, however, alocking means might'be found useful.

In order to facilitate the passage of the material through the slots b2and to insure'engagement with the walls of the chamber, so as to form aninitial resistance to the advancement of the several layers immediatelyafter being superimposed upon the end of the IOS IIS

column, as well as to insure the presence of sufficient material to tillthe chamber with compacted material at and from the very top, the edgeof chamber a, if desired, may be slightly beveled or chamfered, as at61.3,'Figs. 3, 4, and 6. This enables the material after `passing intothe chamber to quickly gain a resistance bearing 4against the innersurface of the chamber, thus enabling the clutching action of the holderupon the compressed inaterial to begin at a point close to the top. A

bevel whereby the diameter of a cylindrical the abutment, so that thenew material en o tering between the abutment and the condensed materialis itself compressed to the point where its `resistance to furthercompression is suicient to overcome the resisty ance that holds the massof compressed inaterial against the abutment. The friction of thematerial against the interior wall of the chamber, if the latter is ofsufficient length, of' itself affords such a resistance to a certaindegree, and I have found in practice that a simple, inexpensive, andefficient manner-of securingsuch resistance is to contract slightly thebore of the holder or receiving-chamber for the whole or some portion ofits length in the Adirection of the passage of the `column of compressedmaterial, whereby also a sufficient clutching engagement between thewalls ofthe chamber or holder and the column of compressed material isassured. Itis evident that the greater the contraction of this bore andthe greater the length of the cylinder the great-er will be theresistance to the passage of the column which will be thereby afforded.A holder or chamber of comparatively small length in relation to itsdiameter may cause the material to buckle at the center, yand the use ofa cylinder of very great length relatively to its diameter requires anexcessive amount of power to force the column through the cylinder. Inpractice I have found that a holder 0r chamber of about nineteen inchesin diameter at the end at which the material enters, beveled at the topto a diameter of eighteen inches and a half, as above described, andwith a length of about eight inches, is satisfactory and effective, andwith achamber o f that size a contraction of about one-half an inch indiameter from the point a3 below the bevel at the top of the chamber tothe discharge end of the cylinder is sufficient for effective action.These proportions may, however, be varied without departure from myinvention, and it is obvious that either the bevel at the receiving endof the chamber or the contraction of the chamber below maybe employedwithout the other.

Where the resistance to movement of the compressed mass from theabutment by the incoming material is produced Wholly by frictionalengagement of the sides of the column with the Walls of the' chamber orholder, whether cylindrical o r tapered, there is danger ofnon-uniformityof condensation of the material due to differences infriction or adhesion, depending on the condition as to dampness, dac.,of the material. It may be desirable, therefore, that a counter-abutmentshould be employed to aord resistance by pressure against the end of thelcolumn-- such, for example, as the receding platform or su pport to beherein afterdescribed-Which receives the end of the column afteremergence from the holder and the pressure or resistance of whichcan beproperly graduated and maintainedsubstantially uniform, being unaffectedby variations in the condition of the material being operated upon.

Other features of my invention reside in providing means for vreceivingthe end of the compressed column as it emerges from the delivery end ofthe resistance sleeve or chamber win order to support the same and toprevent the endwise expansion of the column, and also when desired toserve as a counterabutment to maintain the pressure (or a portionthereof.) of the compressed material against the under surface of thecap-plate, as before explained. Many specifically dilferent arrangementsmay be devised for accomplishing these objects without departing fromthe spirit .or scope of my invention. I/Yhile, therefore, I have shownand will now describe various constructions and arrangements asoperative embodiments of means for accomplishing the desired objectsrend as the best forms in which I at present contemplate carrying myinvention into practice, I desireit to `be understood that the specificforms shown 4are illustrative of the genericvprinciples of my inventionsand that my invention is not to be limited or confined thereto.

`I will first describe the construction and 'arrangement shown f orreceiving and supporting theend of the column B' of compressed materialas it emerges from the compressing apparat us, particular referencebeing had to Figs. l1, lla, and l2, wherein referencesgn f5 designates asuitable closed cylinder in which is arranged a piston f6, mounted uponapiston-rod f4, which is arranged to project through a suitablest.ufl"1ng-box in the end of' the cylinder, as shown. Two pipes orpassages f are arranged to open communication between the respectiveends of the cylinder f5 on opposite sides of the piston f6. In each pipeor passage f7 is arranged a check-valve f8, the check-valve in one pipeor passage being arranged to seat in the opposite direction with respectto the check-valve in the other pipe or passage. By filling cylinderf5with a suitable fluid it will be readily seen that the movement of thepiston from one end of the cylinder to the other is opposed by theresistance afforded to the flow of Huid from .one end of the cylinder tothe other through one or the other of pipes or passages f7, according tothe direction of movement of IIO the piston, and this resistance may beregulated by suitably regulating the pressure by which the check-valveis held to its seat. It will also be seen that the resistance opposingthe movement of the piston is maintained constant and steady throughoutthe length of its stroke. Upon the end of piston-rod f4 is suitablymounted a supporting head or platformf, which maybe of any desired sizeor shape adapted to receive the end of the column of compressed materialas it emerges from the compressing apparatus. Ifdesired, and as shown,the head or platform support f may be mounted to freely rotate orrevolve upon or with reference to the piston f4. This is particularlydesirable in that style of compressing apparatus wherein the chamber orsleeve a revolves, in order to avoid interposing resistance to therotation of the column of material which rotates with the chamber. Ifdesired, and as shown, in order to reduce to a minimum the friction ofrotation of this head or platform f antifriction bearing-balls f2 may beinterposed between such head `or platform and its bearing upon thepiston-rod.

In operation the piston f is moved to that end of the cylinder nearestthe compressing apparatus and in position for the head or platform j toreceive and bear against the end of the emerging compressed column. Asthe compressed column continues to emerge from the chamber the head orplatform recedes against the yielding resistance offered to the flow ofHuid from one end of the cylinder to the other around the piston throughone or the other of the pipes f7, as the case may be. Thus not only isthe emerging compressed column supported, bnt it is also held againstthe tendency to expand endwise by reason of the column leavingoremerging from the confining receiving chamber or holder.

By the action of the appliances thus far dcscribed-namely, the holderand the abutment-the compressed material is formed into a column in theholder by a substantially continuous addition thereto of one or more lmsor layers, (one to each slot or inlet opening,) said layers being builtor laid spirally upon the end of the previously-compressed 1nass,wl1ichis thus composed of one or more spirally-laid films, and while thecohesiveness and solidity of the mass against separation or expansionlaterally is very great, due to the interlocking of the fiber throughouteach lm or layer, there is substantially no interlocking of the fiber ofone layer or turn of the spiral with that of the neXt, so that the massis easily separable transversely between the layers as soon as thelongitudinal restraint or confinement is removed.

I will now describe means whereby when a sufficient length of thecompressed column to form a bale has emerged from the compressingapparatusit may be detached orseparated from the material retained inthe chamber or sleeve. I do not claim in this application the mechanismfor severing the bale nor the pivotal construction whereby lthe supportmay be swung out of line with the compressing mechanism because Iint-end to le adivisional application forsuch mechanism andconstruction, in which claims will be made thereto, and such divisionalapplication will belfiled prior to the issuance of the patent on thisapplication. This result may be accomplished in many specificallydifferent ways, and While the specific form shown embodies the genericprinciples of means for accomplishing the desired object I desire it tobe understood that the invention is not limited orconfined thereto. Inthe form shown a flanged collaror frame g is suitably mounted upon thedelivery end of the sleeve or chamber a. Secured to or carried by thiscollar or frame gis a frame g2, having suitable guidevvays 7L formedtherein. Preferably these guideways are radially disposed relative tothe axis of the compressed material. Suitable blocks or carriers h2 aremounted to slide in these guideways, which blocks carry the severing orseparating cutters or blades h3. The cutter blocks or carriers h2 arearranged to be advanced so as to cause the cutters or blades topenetrate the compressed column of material. A simple and efficientarrangement, to which, however, the invention is not limited, is shownfor actuating the severing blades or cutters wherein the cutter-carriersare suitably connected to levers or arms h4, pivotally mounted, as ath5, upon frame g2. (See Fig. 13.) A convenient means is shown forrocking the arms or levers h4, comprising a projection formed on orcarried by the levers h4, said projection having the cam-surfaces h671,7. It will be remembered that the frames g g2 are mounted on thesleeve or chamber a. Therefore in the case where such chamber is rotatedthe frames g g2 are also revolved. Now by arranging an obstruction inthe path of the camsurfaces of levers hJe said levers are rocked abouttheir pivots, thereby advancing or retracting the blades or cutterstoward or from the column of material. In Fig. 11 are shown stops hs7L", arranged to be projected into the path of camsurfaces 71. k7,respectively. Thus when stop hs is projected into the path ofcam-surfaces hit will be seen that during the succeeding completerevolution of the chamber a` all the levers h4 will be rocked in adirection to cause the blades or cutters to be advanced into the columnof material, thus severing or detaching a bale from the end of thecolumn sufficiently to insure the separation of the bale from the columnas and when the bale is allowed to be Withdrawn, as hereinafterdescribed. Although it would be possible so to organize and operate theseveringblades above described as to completely separate the bale bymeans of them, in practice it is more convenient to use said blades toseparate the bale from the column in part only, thereby forming a lineof separat-ion on which the bale will be severed from the column as thebale is withdrawn, as hereinaf- ICO IIO

6 cease@ ters may be advanced by hand or otherwise,

as by means Vof lev'ershw, suitably pivoted upon aconvenient part of theframework. (See Fig. 3.9

When a bale has been finally severed or separated fromy the column, itis important to 'hold the severed or separated ends of the column andbale, respectively, against the eX- pansion of the material endwise ofthe bale and column. It will be seen from the foregoing description thatsince the separatin g or severing blades or cutters above described arecarried by or adjacent to the delivery end of the sleeve or chamber athey may perform the function'of holding the column of materialcontained in the chamber or sleeve from endwise expansion until suchcutters are withdrawn from their advanced position, and hence until thesevered bale has been removed and ahead or platform f is againbroughtinto position against the end of the column. Many specificallydifferent arrangements may be employed forholdin g the severed orseparated end of the bale against endwise expansion. While, therefore, Ihave shown and will now describe a simple and efficient arrangement foraccomplishing the desired result, I do not desire to be limited orrestricted thereto. In the form shown detachable plates or blades 2 arearranged to be advanced into the column of compressed material, and bysuitably coupling these holding plates or blades to the head fthedetached bale is held against endwise expansion. In the form shown theplates or blades t2 are carried by blocks i12, mounted to slide insuitable ways in frame g. In the form shown one of the ways in which theseparating cutter orblock slides is eX- tended, as at h2o, to formaguide for the holder plate or blade. An arm t, connected to thesevering-blade carrier and arranged to engage behind the holder blade orblock, serves to advance the lholder blade or block with the severing orseparating blade. When the holding-blade is thus advanced, it clears theedge of its guide h2", and hence remains in advanced position when thesevering-blade is withdrawn. To each holder blade or'plate is connectedone end of an arm c, the other end of such arm being attachable in anysuitable manner to the head f. In the forni shown the head or platformj' is provided with ears 7c, and cross-pieces 15, carried by the ends ofrods 14, are arranged to engage saidears, thereby detachably locking orclamping the bale between the holding plates or blades i2 and theplatform or head f. As

shown in' Fig. 11, the ears 7s may be formed ona plate fw, independentof the head, to en-l able them to be brought Withcertainty into linewith the blades.

When a bale has been severed or separated i by theblades, as aboveexplained, from the end of the compressed column, it is desirable thatit be lowered away from the end of the column 'in order to facilitateits removal. This result may be accomplished in many different ways. InFig. 11'I have shown a simple and efficient arrangement for accomofmounting the head or platform f directly upon the end of piston-rod f4said head or platform is mounted upon a sleeve f3, which is mounted uponthe piston-rod for slight endwise movement thereon. A spring f isinterposed between the piston-rod and the sleeve f3, said springnormally exerting its tension in a direction to separate the sleeve andpiston-rod. A latch m, suitably operated by a 'handle m2, serves toengage and hold the sleeve in the limits of its movements. From thisconstruction it will be seen that when it is desired to remove aseparated or severed bale the latch m is disengaged from Asleeve f3,thus permitting the weight of the bale to depress the head or platformfagainst spring j"12 until the latch m is again in position to lock thesleeve to the piston-rod. In this manner the bale is separated from thecolumn on the line of separation made bythe blades, as above described,and withdrawn sufficiently to permit of the ready removal of such bale.Of course many other arrangements may be employed for accomplishing thesame result. My invention, therefore, is not limited to the exactconstruction shown and above described. l

After the bale has been separated and withdrawn from the column, asabove described, it may be suitably tied or wired, the head or platformf being provided with grooves f, Fig. ll, to permit the tie-wires to beapplied to the bale. In order to facilitate the removal of the bale,provision may be made for swinging the platform or head upon which thebale is supported out of line with the compressing apparatus. Thisresult may be accomplished in many different ways. For instance, and asshown, the cylinder f5 and its connected parts may be provided withtrunnions n, suitably journaled in the framework and upon which saidcylinder may rock or swing out of line with the column of compressedmaterial to permit of the removal of the bale from the head or platformvcarried thereby, and after the bale is finally removed said cylinder maybe swung back again into position to receive the neXt'bale. Aspring-pressed bolt o may serve to lock the cylinder in position to holdthe head or platform in line with the column of compressed .material asit emerges from the press.

It will be remembered that the severing or separating blades h3, asabove described, are arranged to perform the function of holding` thesevered end of the column from endwise expansion. In order that saidblades may be promptly relieved of this duty and without `interruptingthe continuous operation of the machine, it may be found desirable topromptly replace a platform or` head in position to receive the end ofthe emerging co1- plishing the desired object wherein instead Iso umnwhile the previously det-ached or separated bale is being removed. Thisresult may be accomplished in many different ways. For instance, and asshown, the piston-rod f4 may project through both ends of cylinder f5,and each end of said piston-rod may be provided with a su pporting heador platformf, as shown in Fig. ll. By this construction it will bereadily seen that when the cylinder f5 is rocked or swung aboutits trunnions to remove a bale supported upon one head or platform the otherhead or platform carried upon the other end of the piston is broughtinto position to receive the next bale. Thus each detached bale may beremoved at leisure without interfering with or interrupting thecontinuous operation of the machine.

In Figs. 17 and 18 is shown a modified arrangement of receding platformor support for the end of the compressed column B as illustrative of myinvention in this respect. In this form of the invention'a threaded rodor bar f25 is suitably stepped in a block kw, pivotally mounted in abase 7a2. A plate or disk fm, having a threaded hub, is mounted totravel on the threaded rod or barf25. A platform or head f2() is mountedto freely rotate upon bar or rod f25 and constitutes the supporting heador platform for the end of the column B as it emerges from the press. Asuitable ball-bearing, as .indicated at f, may be interposed betweenhead or platform f2() and the plate or disk fm, and the head or platformis yieldingly supported with reference to plate or disk f2, as by meansof interposed springs fm, held in place by retainers f2?, as clearlyshown. These springs normally operate to maintain the head or platformand plate or disk yieldingly separated. These parts may be provided withsuitable frictionalengagingsurfacesf2,whereby when the plate or platformfm is sufficiently de-` pressed against the action of springs ffl theplate or disk f2l1 is engaged and caused to rotate with the head orplatform figo, which in tu rn rotates with the column of compressedmaterial. The rotation of plate or diskf24 causes said plate or disk totravel as a nut on the threaded rod f25, thus securing the desiredreceding movement of the platform or head f2() as the column continuuesto emerge from t-he press. The rod f25 is accommodated during theadvancement of the column in the longitudinal central opening formedtherein, as clearly shown, and when a bale is finally completed andseparated this rod may either be withdrawn or may remain and serve aspart of the bale-holding means.

The operation of the apparatus will be readily understood frorn theforegoing description and is as follows: The material to be compressedis suitably delivered to or upon the feeding head or cap'and relativerotation is imparted to the head or cap and chamber, the chamber havingpreviously been prelimina rily filled by hand or otherwise to a pointsuch `some pressure against the inner surface of the cap. By therelative rotation of the chamber and cap the material supplied to thecap which approaches the surface of the material contained in thechamber is caught by the material in the chamber and drawn through theslot or slots `in the cap under the eompressing edges of the slots andbetween the inner surface of the cap and the end of the column or massof material contained in the chamber. The material thus drawn into thechamber at each slot is condensed and compressed into a thin fiat spiralby the action of the contracting neck or throat formed be tween thecompressing edge of the slot and the surface of material contained inthe chamber and is applied to the end of the column or mass contained inthe chamber in a spiral layer. In this manner the column of material isbuilt up endwise, each relative rotation of the chamber and cap addingone or more flattened, condensed, and compressed layers, depending uponthe number of slots in the feeding-head, and each increment or layerthus added causing the column to be correspondingly advanced through thechamber against the resistance offered to its passage through thechamber-as, for example, that offered by the friction of theinternalsurface thereof and that due to the contraction in internal diameter ofthe chamber toward the delivery end thereofthus securing au endwisecompression of the column. The end of the column finally emerges fromthe chamber, where it is received upon a yielding support orplatform,which serves to prevent endwise expansion of the column. Duringthe operation the material in the chamber is held against rotationwithin or from slipping against the walls of the chamber by frictionalbearing against said walls or otherwise, thus insuring the necessaryrelative rotation between the chamber and the material in the chamber onthe one part and the cap on the other. IVhen, finally, a sufficientlength of the column has emerged from the chamber to form a bale, thesevering cutters or blades are advanced, thereby sufficiently severingthe bale to enable it to be detached on the line of penetration of theblades. The baleholders are also applied to prevent endwise expansion ofthe severed length or bale and the bale is removed, binding-wires orsimilar devices and, if desired, a bag or covering being appliedthereto.

Vhile I have shown and described specifically an apparatus in which theholder and properly-slotted cap-plate have a relative motion of rotationto form a cylindrical bale of compressed material, that being the bestform of apparatus known to me, it is obvious that many features of myinvention' are equally applicable to an apparatus having a holder andproperly-slotted cap-plate of different form, provided they have suchrelative motion as is required to make the shape of bale as to cause thecontents thereof to exert] which they are designed to produce.

IOO

IIO

IZO

of my invention and a form of apparatus embodying the same, what I claimas new and useful and of my own invention, and desire tosecure byLetters Patent'of the Unitedi States, is-

l. A machine for compressing fibrous material, comprising a holderadapted to engage the sides of a column of compressed material, a cap orabutment provided with one or more inlet-openings, each having aninclined com.- pressing edge or lip, means for moving one rof saidelements with relation to the other to., cause the said inlet-openingsto travel with relation `to the end of the column of compressed materialin contact with said abutment, and a resisting counter-abutment for,receiving the other end of said compressed column and preventingexpansion thereof as for the purpose lset forth.

ferial, a chamber forming a holder adaptedfto embrace a portion of acolumnof compressed material, means for condensing the material upon oneend of said column and correspondingly advancing said column through theholder including a cap or abutment, and asupport for thecol umn as itemerges from the holder, said support and cap serving to susi tain andpreventexpansion of the mass of compressed material after emerging fromthe holder, as and for the purpose set forth.

3. In a machine for compressing fibrous material, achamber, and meansfor continuously feeding the material into and through such chamber andsubgectingthe same `to pressure, in combination with means forreceiving, supporting and preventingexpansion of the material after itis compressed and as itemerges from such chamber, as and for thepurposeE set forth.

4. In a machine for compressing fibrous material, a holder adapted l,toembrace a portion of the column of compressed material, means i,

for condensing the material upon one end of said column andcorrespondingly advancingV said column through the holder, Vand amovable support for the column as it emerges i from the holder, betweenwhich and an abutment at the other end of the holder the colf umn ismaintained under compression, and

means for yrieldingly resisting the receding c movement of said support,as and for the pur- I pose'set forth.

5. In a machine for compressing fibrous material, a chamber, and meansfor continuously feeding the materialv into and through such chamber andsubjecting the same to pressure,

` in combination with a receding support adapted to receive thecompressed material as it emerges from such chamber and support the sameagainst expansion, as and for the purpose set forth.

6. In a machine for compressing fibrous material, a chamber, a slottedcap for one end of such chamber, and means for relatively rotating saidchamber and cap, whereby material supplied to said cap is drawn intosaid chamber and compressed, in combination with a support arranged toreceive said compressed material as it emerges from said chamber andhold it against expansion, as and for the purpose set forth.

7. In a machine for compressing fibrous material, a chamber open at bothends, a slotted .cap for one end of such chamber, said chambercontracting in internal diam eterfrom one ,end toward the other, andmeans for relatively rotating said chamber and cap,where ,by materialsupplied to said cap is drawn into and forced through said chamber andis compressed, invcombination with a'receding` support arranged toreceive the compressed material as it emerges from such chamber, as

, and for the purpose set forth. the column emerges from the holder, asand 8. In a machine for compressing fibrous may terial, a chamber openat both ends, a sta- 2. In amachinefor compressingiibrousmationarily-mounted slotted cap-plate for one ,end of saidchamber and means for rotating said chamber, in combination with areceding support arranged to receive the compressed material as itemerges from said chamber, 4said support mounted to rotate, as and forthe purpose set forth. c

' 9. In amachine for compressing fibrous material, a chamber, a sta tionaril y-mounted cap for one end of such chamber, said cap being slotted,and means for rotating said chamber, in combination with a recedingsupport iarranged to receive the compressed material as it emerges fromthe chamber, said support mounted to rotate with the material, and

`means for yieldingly resisting the receding movement `of said support,as and for the purpose set forth.

10. Ina machine for compressing fibrous d material, an open-endedchamber, a slotted cap for one end of said chamber, and means forrelatively rotating said chamber and cap, said lchamber provided withlongitudinal ribs von the inner surface thereof, said ribs varying inwidth and thickness from the inlet toward the delivery end of saidchamber, as and Ifor the purpose set forth. I

1l. In a machine for `compressing fibrous material, an open-endedchamber, a slotted cap for `one end of said chamber,and means forrelatively rotating said chamber and cap, ysaid chamber provided withVentilatingspaces in the inner surface thereof, whereby the compressedmaterial is ventilated, as and for the purpose set forth.

l2. In a machine for compressing fibrous material, a holder for thecompressed material, a slotted cap for one end of said holder, said capforming an abutment for the compressed material, and means forrelatively moving said holder and cap, said cap provided with grooves onthe inner surface thereof, whereby the area of frictional contactingsurface between the cap and material is reduced, as and for the purposeset forth.

13. In a machine for compressing iibrous material, a holder for thecompressed material, a slotted cap for one end of said holder, said capforming an abutment for the compressed material, and means forrelatively rotating the holder and cap, said cap being provided Withconcentric grooves on the inner surface thereof, as and for the purposeset forth.

14. In a machine for compressing fibrous material, a holder for thecompressed material, a cap for one end of said holder, said cap providedwith one or more inlet openings or slots, and having grooves on theinner surface thereof, said grooves increasing in dimension from thecompressing edge of one of said slots toward the next adjacent slot, andmeans for relatively rotating said holder and cap, as and for thepurpose set forth.

15. In a machine for compressing fibrous material, a holder for the-compressed material, a cap for one end of such holder, said capprovided with one or more slots and forming an abutment for thecompressed material, the end of said holder adjacent to said cap beingchamfered or beveled, as and for the purpose set forth.

16. In a machine for compressing brous material, an open-ended holder, aslotted cap for one end of said holder, the surface of said cap beingbeveled or inclined toward the slot therein, and means for relativelyrotating the holder and cap, in combination with an openended basket orreceptacle arranged over the cap and arranged to receive and guide thematerial supplied to the cap, as and for the purpose set forth.

In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand, this 4th day of June,1898, in the presence of the subscribing Witnesses.

GEORGE A. LOWRY.

Witnesses:

CARRIE C. EDMANDS, CLARENCE ALFRED BUNKER

